Awkward bacon talk replaces Gaza discussion in scrapped Kamala Harris interview with Muslim influencer

In a now-scrapped interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, Muslim influencer Kareem Rahma claims he was blocked from discussing the Gaza conflict – a key issue for many Arab-American and Muslim voters – and instead found himself engaged in an awkward conversation about bacon. According to The New York Times, Rahma was barred from raising the Biden administration's stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza, which has led to high Palestinian casualties and remains a contentious point for Muslim communities. Instead, Harris reportedly focused on praising bacon as a "spice," a move that bewildered the Muslim influencer, who abstains from pork for religious reasons.

The interview, part of Rahma's social media show “Subway Takes,” was scrapped after Harris’s team repeatedly rejected his requests to address Gaza, despite his prior efforts to coordinate this topic with the vice president’s staff. In an unaired clip, Rahma appeared caught off guard as Harris promoted bacon as “pure flavour” that could add zest to meals. The influencer, visibly uncomfortable, asked about alternatives like beef or turkey but noted later that the “bacon talk” had thrown him off. “I don’t know,” he responded during the interview, according to The New York Times, signalling his dismay at the unexpected culinary angle.

Rahma’s attempt to discuss Gaza reflects growing frustration among Arab-American and Muslim communities who feel that their concerns are being overlooked by the Democratic Party. In past elections, Arab-Americans have largely supported Democratic candidates, swayed by the party’s stance on civil rights and domestic policies. However, as the Gaza conflict intensifies, recent polls indicate a shift: many Arab and Muslim voters are now reconsidering their support for Harris, citing the administration’s pro-Israel stance as a driving factor in their dissatisfaction.

Shift in Arab support

According to a recent poll by the Arab News Research and Studies Unit, Donald Trump holds a slight edge over Harris among Arab-American voters, with 45% of respondents favouring Trump compared to 43% for Harris. Although this margin is within the poll’s error range, it marks a significant change from the 2020 election when Arab-Americans largely backed Joe Biden. Key concerns among this demographic include the Biden administration’s military support for Israel and its perceived lack of responsiveness to Arab-American voices on international issues, especially the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Fox News also highlighted that Harris has faced backlash at rallies from anti-Israel protesters, underscoring the discontent in some quarters over her administration’s stance. The vice president’s recent remarks at a Michigan event, where she expressed sympathy for those affected by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, drew mixed reactions. Despite her efforts to connect with Arab-American voters, critics argue that these attempts are insufficient to address the community’s frustrations with the Democratic Party’s foreign policy.

In Michigan, a key swing state with a substantial Muslim population, Trump’s recent endorsement by Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, who is of Arab descent, underscores the Republican candidate’s growing support among Arab-Americans. Bazzi joined Trump at a Michigan rally, further signalling the GOP’s outreach efforts within this community. Some voters, disillusioned with Democratic leaders, now see Trump as an alternative, despite his past hardline stance on Muslim issues, including his infamous “Muslim ban” and inflammatory rhetoric towards Muslim lawmakers.

For many, however, supporting Trump is less about endorsement than a protest against a Democratic administration they feel has failed to engage meaningfully with their concerns. Michigan community leader Amer Ghalib remarked to The New York Times, “If [Harris] loses Michigan and the election, it won’t be because Muslim voters were disloyal to the Democratic Party. It will be because she and the Democratic Party were not loyal to them."